Rein-fastening



(No Model.)

0. BAGLEY.

REIN FASTENING. No. 589,997. Patented Sept. 14,1897.

an n c n d! "al (l ulllilll? 'll, NW "NW mm H m @Qg 0 995mm". I 1

d j Cid Wimesses lnvemor' NITE TATES RElN-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,997, dated September 14: 1897.

Application filed February 12, 1896. Renewed February 17, 1897. Serial No. 623,900. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ORIN BAGLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Sutton, in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rein-Fastenings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to driving-reins which extend from the bits to the carriage as one continuous piece 011 each side and there united by a buckle. Such reins are usually provided at that end which attaches to the bits with a metallic lining or stiifenin g, which renders them more or less diflicult to detach from the bits, and hence the other ends are generally disconnected when unharnessing and lapped through the bit-rings several times before removing the bridle with which they are put away; but the buckle used at the ends of the reins after shortuse becomes ineffective as a fastening and at certain times such, for instance, as on a dark night in winter when the weather is coldit is not always an easy matter to attach one to the other.

The object of my invention is to provide an eifective substitute for connecting the ends of reins and at the same time tomake such device separable by a sudden jerk.

The invention consists of a spring-clasp of the novel construction described in the following specification and claim and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same, of which Figure 1 is a broken elevation showing the ends of a pair of reins provided with my improved fastening. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing my device in detaihas when disconnected, and having the outer cap of the socket member removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the two parts, as when separated, Fig. 4 being alongitudinal section of both members of my improved fastening, as when disconnected.

Similar reference-letters denote corresponding parts.

A represents a plate having in one side a depression a, substantially of the form shown, and provided with a tongue a, which has a narrow transverse opening a for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. A cap A is provided for the plate A, both being provided with perforations a through which to pass rivets O, by which the plate and cap are firmly secured together. A spring T, of suitable form to be retained in the socket or de pression a of the plate A, is formed with bent ends 15, turning inward or toward each other, their angle conforming to that of the edges of the projections b of the tongue I), attached to or forming a part of the member B of my improved fastening, with which projections the bent ends t of said spring will engage when the members A B, forming my improved fastening, are united. The end of the tongue I) is formed either convex or somewhat resembling an obtuse wedge, by which means said tongue may be readily forced between the bent ends 25 of the spring T and expand the same until they reach and snap over the projections b of said tongue 11, where their tension is sufficient to withstand any ordinary strain which they would be likely to encounter in use, but not so strong as to prevent their being separated by a quick jerk when unharnessing. The plate B is also provided with a tongue 6 having a transverse opening Z7 as shown. These tongues a and 17 respectively, of the members A B are let into the ends of the reins D, and their openings, respectively, a b are provided for the purpose of stitching in the tongues, as shown at d d, Fig. 1, and a row of stitching d may be added as a finish.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim is- A rein-shackle comprising two metal plates, one being provided with a socket the interior of which is wider on two sides than is its mouth, the other having a tongue provided with projections on opposite sides, and a spring in said socket having its ends bent slightly in a direction toward each other to engage the opposite projections of said tongue.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

0am BAGLEY.

\Vitnesses:

J. B. THURSTON, Gno. II. \VARREN. 

